Increased dog fouling fines make 'good headlines' but miss 'real problem'

Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu has criticised government increasing dog fouling fines from €150 to €250, stating they will make little difference without proper enforcement

News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 13:53, 02 Jul 2026 Updated 16:28, 03 Jul 2026 View Image A no dog fouling sign

Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu has criticised the government's decision to raise dog fouling fines as “failing to address the real problem”.

The former Lord Mayor and Pembroke representative has stated that raising fines from €150 to €250 might “make a good headline” - but that in order to truly tackle the impact of littering and dog fouling enforcement capacity must be increased. She stressed that an increase in fines “won't stop people from littering if there aren't enough officers on our streets to enforce the law”.

“In our largest local authority, Dublin City Council, has just 14 litter wardens, with eight that are tasked to tackle the city centre. That is nowhere near enough for a capital city of almost 600,000 people. The reality is that most littering goes completely unenforced. €200,000 is a tiny fraction of what's needed. We need less headlines from the Government but more support,” she said.

“We also need to trial other innovative measures. I had previously proposed measures such as DNA testing. DNA dog fouling testing has successfully reduced dog fouling by more than 50% in parts of the UK, including Barking and Dagenham. We should be exploring proven measures like this alongside education and enforcement, rather than relying on fines alone.”

The increased fines were announced by Minister of State Alan Dillon last May. The €100 increase comes into effect from September as part of the 2026 Anti-Dumping Initiative.

This initiative aims to reduce illegal dumping and includes on the spot fines of up to €250 for dog fouling. €23 million funding to date for 2,200 projects nationwide and for the removal of 26,000 tonnes of illegally dumped material.

“Increasing fines for littering and dog fouling will act as a stronger deterrent. It will encourage greater compliance and promote more responsible behaviour. The measure also supports the efforts of community volunteers, environmental groups, and local authority staff – who work tirelessly to maintain cleaner, safer and more welcoming neighbourhoods,” Minister Dillon stated.

“By strengthening enforcement measures and encouraging behavioural change, the increased fines will contribute to a cleaner environment, improved public health and a better quality of life for everyone. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to protecting public spaces and fostering respect for the environment and local communities."

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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